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The project aims to create interdisciplinary green teams and a standard assessment model focusing on holistic building assessments. The goal is to assess building performance, apply retrofits, and promote sustainability on campus through innovative approaches. The initiative aims to make sustainability fashionable, driven by a culture of awareness and positive environmental attitudes.
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The Carrot Sticks • Create Interdisciplinary “Building Assessment” Green Teams, and a Standard Assessment Model • Make “going green” cool/fashionable • Smart Refrigeration System (SRS) • The Rensselaericle
Create Interdisciplinary “Building Assessment” Green Teams, and a Standard Assessment Model • Focus: assessing the performance and use of a building, via more holistic approach • Team conducts multi-faceted analysis • Develop a Standard Assessment Model • Apply for grant (Stimulus Package, NSF, NYSERDA etc.) Specific to bio-limaticassessment and retrofitting of older buildings • Impact • Environment: Project dependent thus potential impact is large • Economic: Project dependent • Culture: Train and grow awareness among group and building occupants • Pay-Back • Dependent on extent and type of retrofit identified • Feedback
Focus: Holistic building assessment • Departs from piece-meal, ‘quick-fix’, heavy-handed approaches to building renovation (e.g., replace all windows, replace all light bulbs, replace all plumbing fixtures) • Examines the interplay of multiple additional factors and data
Team would conduct a multi-faceted analysis • Bioclimatic analysis: energy use/performance of building systems • How much do existing systems take into account the external environment? (wait for SRS) • Account for: • Solar energy presence • Wind flows • Temperature swings (diurnal, seasonal, etc.) • Occupancy flows (uses of the building during the course of the day; uses in different seasons; changes in use in past decades)
Make Sustainability Cool • Publicize/promote outstanding sustainable products • Showcase/advertise sustainable behaviors/practices • Impact: • Culture: Foster positive attitudes towards the environmental implications of social behaviors • Economic: Minimal…advertising. Word of mouth, action • Environment: Once the ball gets rolling…. • Who will implement? • Admin., IWSTF, SSTF, and everyone • Feedback…
Driving a Sustainability Culture • President Jackson is ‘far and away’ the most influential voice on campus • Only person whose decisions/leadership automatically gets results • In consultation with Dr. Jackson, develop strategies for driving a sustainability culture • Inspiration: a slogan with the impact of “Yes We Can!” • Aspiration : set clear goals, with metrics and monitoring • Communication: continue the SSTF’s model of collaborative knowledge-building, networking and idea-mining • Motivation: publicize achievements to create the desire for others to emulate success
Examples • Example: Campus retailers or organizations (e.g., Student Senate) offer subsidies to clubs or teams who buy sustainable products and materials and use sustainable practices/processes • Example: request “sustainable product reviews” from Statler & Waldorf and/or The Poly
Examples Cont. • Example: use the central sustainability information website as an advertising venue • “Top Ten Sustainable Products” • “Product of the Week” • Example: provide display area (showcase or central sustainability area)
Example: The Rensselaer “Eco-Button™” • USB-connected energy counter/hibernator for computers • Instantly hibernates computer at near-zero energy consumption • Instantly re-awakens at “wherever you left off” • First screen shows money saved, energy saved • Rensselaer logo printed on the button • Purchase at reduced rate through Voorhees Computer Center • Add to computing package sold to incoming students • Could use coupon to be redeemed at the VCC • Sell to faculty and staff • Use fliers and coupons to advertise • Provide free for a limited time • Can also purchase additional buttons • Advanced use: develop additional software to track and display the savings by class, by school, etc. Product currently available at: www.buzline.com
Example: Annual Sustainability Awards/Appreciation Dinner • Awards for best sustainability courses • Awards for best sustainability research • Showcase innovative technologies • Recognition of best practices (emphasizing ‘operations’ at Rensselaer) • Could incorporate speaker or presentations on innovative technologies
Example: Club for “Recycled Art” • Group focused on creating art made of recycled material. • Intended to be displayed in public spaces. • Would provide venue for creative students • Easy to set up due to pre-existing environmental awareness clubs.
Example: Sponsor Intramural Sports Teams • Select several intramural sports teams to represent a sustainability theme. • Provide free themed t-shirts, water bottles, etc. • Consciousness raising. • Analogous to Vasudha.
Research Project: Smart Refrigeration System (SRS) • Eco-Refrigerator integrated into building wall to cool with outside air in winter • Reduce energy consumption • Reduce the use of freon • Use indoor and outdoor thermostat to control switching of cooling system • Discharge off-heat to outside the building in summer (to reduce air-conditioning costs) • Discharge to inside the building in winter
Rensselaericle • The “Rensselaericle”: transforming the American auto industry • Goal: to address the entire life cycle of transportation carbon emissions • By creating a new, low-emissions (electric vehicle), but ALSO • By doing away with “consumable” or “throw-away” cars and trucks • Underlying problem: U.S. metropolitan models are decentralized; therefore the European approach to urban public transportation is cost-inhibitive for most U.S. locations • Americans love “individual” freedom: they are addicted to “a car for every person” • Also addicted to consumerism – always wanting “the latest style” • Result: a new car every year or two (or five) • Greatest carbon emission is not gas mileage, but auto manufacturing/embodied energy
Rensselaericle • Solution: create a modular car, with a “core to last a lifetime” (20-30 year life) • Base model: galvanized metal, slate gray, simple shape • Simple, durable interior design • Independent electric motors at every wheel (regenerative breaking) • Central ‘power-box’ where electricity is generated • Add-ons: exterior body panels (e.g., make it a Cadillac, Ferrari, or Buick) • Similar ‘upgrades’ for interior • All using interchangeable parts • Power source: as new technology (e.g., upgraded batteries, fuel cell, LNG) come on the market, the owner changes the power source, NOT the car • Result: satisfies consumer desire for a “new car” with a fraction of the manufacturing costs – in terms of both economics and carbon emissions • Used parts can be exchanged, re-used • “Core” could also be expanded (e.g., from 2-seat to 4-seat module) by unbolting and inserting an add-on section • Basic “core/skeleton” remains unchanged • Note: could devastate the auto industry, which is based economically on frequent, wasteful replacement with a new model • Current timing – with the auto industry already undergoing major overhaul – is ideal
Rensselaericle • Impact • Environmental: Greatest carbon emissions reduction possible • Economic: Flip economics of auto industry • Culture: Dispose of throw away mentality… • Who will implement?